Grain-harvesting machine



(No Model.)

E. BARNHARD & A. F. THOMAS.

GRAIN HARVESTING MACHINE. .No. 298,054. .Pat'ntedMay 6, 1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIAs BARNHABD AND AARON F. THOMAS, or TROY, OHIO.

GRAIN- HARVESTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,054, dated May 6, 1884,

Application filed August 1, 1883. Renewed March 27, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, thus BAR-NHARD and A. F. THOMAs, of Troy, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented certain Improvements in Grain-Harvesting Machines, of which the following is a specification. I I

The purpose of this invention is to provide means whereby harvesting-machines may be adjusted at willto cut a swath of greater or less width, as circumstances may render advisable; and to this end it consists in combining with a cutting mechanism a divider or dividers, located at one or both ends of said mechanism, movable in such manner that they may be caused to shield and render inoperative the end of the cutter for a greater or less distance.

Theinvention also consists in various details of construction, which will be hereinafter described. I

The essence of the invention consists in the provision of adjustable means whereby aportion of the cutting devices may be preyented from acting upon the grain, or, in other words,-

the operative portion of the cutter varied in length; and it will be manifest to the skilled mechanic, after an examination of this specification, that various constructions may be adopted to this end.

In the accompanying drawings we have represented a simple and advantageous arrangement, which is the best known to us at the present day;

Referring to the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of aharvesting-machine provided with our improvements. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, looking against the outer or grain side.

Except as to the particulars hereinafter enumerated, the machine may be of any ordinary construction; and as the invention has .no reference to the driving or raking mechanisms it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate the same herein.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the main frame; B, the main wheel; vC, the grainwheel; D, the grain-receiving platform; and'E, the cutting mechanism located at the forward edge of the platform, and consisting, as usual,

machine.

substantially of the ordinary form. Instead of being stationary, as usual, thedivider is mounted, as shown 1n Figs. 1 and 2, in rear of the cutter-bar on a vertical pivot or hinge, G,

which admits of its forward end or pointswinging horizontally. The arrangement is such that when the divider is swung outward it will expose the entire length of the cutter-bar and admit of the grain passing freely thereto, but when it is swung inward it will pass over or above the outer end'of the cutterbar, and by.

excluding the grain from such portion diminish the length of the operative portion, and thereby reduce the width of the cut of the At the inner end of the platform there is a second divider, H, which is hinged at its rear end, I, and extended forward of the cutterbar, so that its forward end may move horizontally over the inner end of the cutter-bar, and render a greater or less portion of the same inoperative by excluding the grain therefrom, its action in this regard being identical with that of the outer divider.

For the purpose of enabling the operator to adjust the two dividers simultaneously, and without dismounting from the machine or arresting its action, I mount at any suitable point upon the frame a centrally-pivotedlever, K, one end of which is connected by a rod, L, to the inner divider, H, while the opposite end is connected by a rod, M, to a second rod, N, which latter is extended beneath the fingerbar to the outer side of the machine, and there connected to the outer divider, F, either directly or through the medium of an arm, a,

rodin the opposite: direction the dividers are moved outward from each other toward the ends ofthe cutter-bar, thus increasing the I width ofthccut. =Therod0 inaybeconnected with ahand lever, foot-lever, or'other'op-: crating device, if preferred, and a locking 'meehanismof suitable charactermay be eni-i I ployed to hold the parts in: position. I Iprefer I to to provide the rod N with a spiralspring, P,

which tends to maintain the dividers in their innermost positionsand to return them to such I positions after they have been separatcd.

\Vhen this spring is employed, itwill bene'cessary'for the operator to hold the lever against the action of the spring during the periods when the dividers are separated,unlcss means 'a re providedforlocking the parts against the action of the spring. I I i i I I i i 1n Fig. 2,1trepresents a notched bar mounted upon the frame, and arranged to receive a I stud on theside of the rod, forthe purpose of thuslockingthc'parts. It is manifest that any I equivalentdeviccs maybe employed; v I I While it is preferred to employ two movable dividers+-one at'each end of the cuttcr-bar- Y itiis manifest thatIcither one'may be employed I alone. I I I Thedividers may be made. of any suitable form, hinged attheir rear ends or at'other suite able points, or arranged toslide inward and outward upon guides, the only requirement being that they shall be movable lengthwise I of the cutters in such manner as to render the same inactive througha greater or less portion Having thus described our invention, whatv 1. Ina graiirharvcstingmaehine,thecomr I hination of a cutter-mechanism, substantially as described, and a divideror: guard movable,

lengthwise over the end of the cutter to render :a Iporti on of the same inoperative, substantially as described and shown, whereby tllOfXVldlihOf the machine may be increased and diminished. I

2. In a harvesting-niacinno, the eombination, with an ordinary cutting mechanism such asv shown, of a horizontalswinging divider,

hinged in rear of the cuiterand eXtendedforward across the same to render a portion of the cutter inoperative, substantially as described.

3. 1n a harvcst'ingqnachinc, the com bination I of a cutting mechanism, substantially as dcscribed, and twomovable dividers or guards locatedat opposite ends of said cutting incohanisnnan d adj ustablc inward past the extremities of the same,substantiallyas described, vwhereby theicxtrcmities oi" the cutter may be I rendered 'inoperative and the; width of out thereby reduced. I

: 4; IInaharvesting-machine, the combination of a cutting mechanism, substantially as de- I scribed, a guard or divider movable over the end'of' the cutter to prevent the access of tho 1 grainthereto, and thereby renderaportionof I I 1 its length: inoperative, and imechanisln, sub;-

stantially as'described, to adjust: said guard, extending thence to a point adjacent'to the I drivers seat, whereby the driver, is enabled to vary thewidth of the out at will while the ma- 1 chine is in action. I I I *5; In combination with the cutting mechan ism, the two'movable dividers, and operating mechanism, substantially as described, connected with both dividers, whereby the two may be adjusted simultaneously.

ELIAS BAR-NHARD. AARON F. THOMAS. \Vitnesses:

H. H. WILLL uis, T. C. BOND. 

